First responders, including firefighters from Jackson Township, and other heroes will be honored at a ceremony tonight.

A yearly event started by the Burn Prevention Network honors individuals for risking their lives to save someone from a burn or death by fire, or for an outstanding job educating the community about fire safety and burn prevention.

Several people from Jackson Township will be honored. Volunteer firefighter Nick Andriola will be awarded for the heroic effort of rescuing Shelly King from her Chevy cargo van.

Andriola was helped by firefighter Ken Werkheiser, who used a pocket knife to cut King's seatbelt to help free her, as flames were approaching. Fire Chief Lester Wolcott also put himself in danger when he reached in and bent the driver's seat backward to help in the rescue.

Andriola described the incident this way: “My adrenaline had kicked in at that point. I didn't know if the lady could hear me or not, but I leaned in close to her and said, 'I'm here to help you. This is gonna hurt.”

Holding King under her arms, Andriola gave a mighty yank and finally got her free.